Overview
- The Plymouth Defence Growth Deal, announced Thursday by the government, commits £50 million to jobs and innovation in Plymouth and the wider South West.
- Funding will expand the National Centre for Marine Autonomy to speed work on surface and underwater drones by cutting red tape and opening waterfront labs and test facilities.
- A new Plymouth Marine Autonomy Trials Authority will help firms test and deploy maritime drones faster so products reach the market sooner.
- City College Plymouth will build a skills hub offering about 60 new defence courses, giving local people routes into advanced manufacturing, engineering and autonomy roles.
- Ministers framed the package as part of the Strategic Defence Review, while local MPs welcomed it but pressed for contract clarity and formal marine test sites off Plymouth Sound.